Degradative luminescent processes in atactic polypropylene II. Chemiluminescence after a cold He plasma attack at-180 degrees C

An atactic polypropylene sample (a-PP1) has been subjected to a series of c old He plasma treatments at -180 degrees C. The experimental device employe d has enabled the simultaneous measurement of the integral light emitted by the samples after the end of the treatment and its spectral analysis. As i n other studied polyolefins, three luminescent processes can be identified, phosphorescence, chemiluminescence and emission after charge recombination . The results have been compared to those obtained for isotactic PP (i PP). and in particular the chemiluminescence component has been compared to the chemiluminescence arising from the thermooxidation of this same a-PP. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.